“But if nothing but soul, or in soul mind, is qualified to count, it is impossible for there to be time unless there is soul, but only that of which time is an attribute, i.e. if change can exist without soul.”
- 384 BC – 322 BC
- Originating from Macedonia in ancient Greece
- Philosopher and scientist, founder of the Lyceum academy
- A student of Plato, he constructed systematic knowledge in logic, biology, politics, ethics, etc., and had a major impact on the development of Western thought and science
Quote
“But if nothing but soul, or in soul mind, is qualified to count, it is impossible for there to be time unless there is soul, but only that of which time is an attribute, i.e. if change can exist without soul.”
Explanation
In this quote, Aristotle is contemplating the relationship between time, change, and soul. He suggests that time cannot exist independently without a soul or mind to perceive it, because time is inherently connected to the experience of change. In other words, for time to be meaningful, there must be a conscious being (the soul) to measure and experience it. Time, for Aristotle, is not a purely objective phenomenon but rather something that is experienced subjectively, tied to the mental awareness of change. The idea is that change is the fundamental attribute of time, and if change exists, there must be a conscious entity capable of perceiving and recording that change.
This concept raises interesting ideas about the nature of time and human consciousness. In modern philosophical and scientific discussions, time is often treated as both a physical and psychological phenomenon. While time can be measured objectively through clocks and calendars, our experience of time—whether it feels slow or fast, and how we perceive changes in our lives—depends on our conscious awareness. Without beings capable of awareness, such as animals or humans, time would not have the same meaning or dimension.
In today’s world, this concept invites us to reflect on the subjectivity of time. For example, in moments of intense emotion or focus, time may seem to either drag or fly by, depending on how we are perceiving the changes in our lives. Aristotle’s quote serves as a reminder that time, while measurable in a physical sense, is deeply tied to awareness and change, and cannot exist as a concept without beings capable of experiencing and interpreting it.
